Macomb Farm to Fork conference to feature Lisa Diggs, Buy Local Now founder

Before Lisa Diggs, “buying local” was a foreign concept to Michiganders.

Diggs will be the keynote speaker for the 3rd annual “All About Food: From Farm to Fork” conference, Feb. 12 at the Macomb Intermediate School District.

“It began with a small list of groceries I created, but now nearly 5,000 businesses have joined our directory,” said Diggs, founder of the Buy Michigan Now campaign aimed at revitalizing the Michigan economy. “More than 7,400 people have taken our pledge to demonstrate a commitment to buying local.”

Hosted by the Macomb Food Collaborative, the all-day event is designed for those who grow, sell, prepare, buy and eat food.

Diggs’ mission, she said, is to generate greater awareness regarding the importance of supporting Michigan-based business and actively promoting what our home state has to offer.

“I launched this campaign in 2007 because our economy was suffering much more than the rest of the country,” Diggs said. “Information on what was local wasn’t easy to find, so I began doing research on my own.”

Diggs first created a grocery list that was passed among friends. That list eventually became a website, buymichigannow.com, then a holiday gift guide and finally a passionate plea to support local retailers during the holidays.

“A few weeks later, before Google found (us), Governor Granholm’s office called asking if the Governor could speak about the campaign in her weekly radio address,” Diggs said. “And it has grown every day since.”

The campaign will celebrate its sixth annual Buy Local festival Aug. 1-3 2014 in Northville.

Food, Diggs said, is the easiest place for most people to start contributing to the state’s economy.

“For example, you can change from a national to a local brand of potato chips, eat at an independent restaurant that serves up locally sourced foods, or visit a farmer’s market and buy in season foods straight from the farmer,” Diggs said.

Cost, Diggs, said is often the biggest, consumer road block.

“Locally produced foods can be more expensive because they are made in smaller batches without factory equipment,” Diggs said. “That typically increases freshness and quality, but can also impacts price.

Diggs recommends getting started by reading labels, downloading her grocery guide and visiting farmers’ markets and retailers that “make an effort” to carry local items.

But the All About Food conference is more than a message to buy local, stresses incoming MFC chairwoman, Nicole Urban.

Break-out session provide “great tips on how to get involved in local food systems and make changes in our own lives,” Urban said. “We have experts talking about starting a food business or how to raise chickens in an urban environment. We also highlight local food entrepreneurs such as the Happy Cake Lady and Rising Star Academy.”

Urban said she is personally empowered by learning about all the little things she can do to make a difference.

“With a few small changes, I can eat fresher, healthier local produce and at the same time help support Macomb County farmers,” Urban said.

Some of the featured, 18 workshops include: Living with Chron’s and Colitis and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet; Starting a Successful Cottage Food Business; Making Homemade Ricotta Cheese; Social Media for you and your food- or farm-based business; Agri-Tourism opportunities in Macomb County, All About Bees, Zumba and much more.

MFC member, All About Food conference chair and vice president of the newly formed Macomb County Master Gardeners Association, Jean Persely said master gardeners will be more actively involved in hosting the conference this year than in the past.

“It just makes sense that master gardeners play a more active role in supporting their local food system,” Persely said. “And many of our workshops, from Planning and Zoning to Growing and Using Herbs to Farmers as Stewards, Home Food Preservation and All About Bees, are absolutely of interest to gardeners.”

Conference participants are also invited to bring a non-perishable food item to support the Macomb Food Program, which helps supplies Macomb County’s 52 food pantries.

Conference cost is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Pre-register by mail by Jan. 31 by writing to: “Nicole Urban, Senior Services, 21885 Dunham Rd. Suite 6, Clinton Township, MI 48036. Checks should be made out to the “Macomb Food Collaborative.” The conference takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the MISD, 4401 Garfield, Clinton Township, MI, 48038. For more information, visit www.macombfood.org.